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THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,  | 
J  Princeton,  N.  J.    y— ' 


X      Bequeathed  by  the  Hon.  E.  BOUDINOT,  LL.D. 

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A  LETTER 

FROM  THE 

GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 

TO  THE 

CHURCHES  UNDER  THEIR  CARE ; 

\CCOMPANIED  WITH  A  PLAN  ADOPTED  BY  THE  ASSEMBLY 

FOR  THE  ESTABLISHMENT 


THEOLOGICAL  SCHOOL, 

INTENDED  TO  INCREASE 

THE  PIETY  AND  LEARNING, 

OF  CANDIDATES  FOR  THE  HOLY  MINI^RY, 

AS  WELL  AS  TO  PROCURE 

A  LARGER  SUPPLY  OF  MINISTERS 

FOR  THE 
WANTS  OF  THE  CHURCHES. 


PHILADELPHIA , 


PRINTED  BY  JANE  AITKEN,  No.  71, 
NORTH  THIRD  STREET. 


18lO, 


THE  LETTER 


GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 


The  General  AJfembly  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the   United 
States  of  America,  to  the  churches  under  their  care. 

Dear  Brethren, 

Among  the  various  objects  which  have  engaged  our  attention 
in  the  course  of  our  prefent  feffions,  one  of  the  moil  important  is, 
the  plan  of  a  Theological  Seminary,  propofed  to  be  establifhed, 
in  some  convenient  spot  within  the  bounds  of  our  church.  This 
plan,  so  far  as  it  has  been  matured,  accompanies  the  prefent  ad- 
drefs,  and  solicits  your  serious  confideration. 

We  trust,  dear  brethren,  it  is  not  necessary  to  employ  much  ar- 
gument to  convince  you,  that  the  time  has  arrived,  in  which  fome 
new  and  vigorous  exertions  are  indispensable  for  increasing  the 
number,  and  raifing  the  qualifications,  of  candidates  for  the  gospel 
miniftry  in  our  church. — When  you  are  reminded,  that  the  pro- 
grefs  of  population  is  going  on  in  our  country  in  a  ratio  at  leafl 
three  or  four  times  greater,  than  the  increafe  of  the  number  of 
minifters  ; — when  you  are  apprized,  that  we  have  near  four 
hundred  vacant  congregations  within  our  bounds  ;  that 
the  frontier  settlements,  as  well  as  many  large  and  important  dis- 
tricts in  the  interior  of  our  country,  are,  every  year,  calling  upon  us 
for  miflionary  labours,  which  we  are  not  able  to  fupply  ;  and  that 
there  is  no  profpect  that  any  means  of  relief  yet  devifed,  will  be 
fufficient  to  preserve  many  parts  of  the  church  from  a  mod  diftxefT- 
ing  famine  of  the  word  of  life  ;  we  truft  you  will  perceive  the 
abfolute  neceflity  of  ufing  our  utmofl  exertions  for  fending  forth 
more  labourers  into  so  great  a  harveft. 

We  feel  perfuaded,  that,  if  the  plan  which  we  have  adopted 
can  be  carried  into  vigorous  execution,  it  will  tend,  under  the 
divine  blefiing,  to  increase  the  number  of  candidates  for  the  holy 
miniltry.  If  we  are  enabled,  by  the  poffeflion  of  fuitable  funds, 


not  only  to  afford  a  more  complete  and  ample  courfe  of  inftruction 
in  theology  than  has  been,  heretofore,  in  ordinary  cafes,  attain- 
able ;  but  also  to  afford  this  inftruction  gratuitously,  to  those  who 
are  themselves  deftitute  of  adequate  pecuniary  refources;  we  che- 
rifh  the  hope  that  thefe  facilities  will  be  the  means  of  drawing  into 
public  view  many  ingenious  and  pious  youth,  who  are  at  present, 
either  difcouraged  from  making  the  attempt  to  gain  an  education 
for  the  miniftry,  or  not  properly  awakened  to  the  loud  and  impor- 
tunate demands  of  the  church. 

But  further ;  fuch  a  seminary  as  that  which  is  now  proposed 
is  not  less  calculated  to  improve  the  education,  than  to  increase  the 
number,  of  candidates  for  the  facred  office. — Without  fome  pro- 
vifion  of  this  kind,  it  is,  in  moft  cases,  utterly  impoilible  to  bring 
forward  candidates  for  the  miniftry  with  that  furniture  and  thofe 
qualifications  for  their  work,  which  the  date  of  society  now  ren- 
ders in  a  great  measure  indifpensable  to  their  respectability  and 
usefulnefs.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  we  fhall  never  ceafe  to  confider 
vital  and  experimental  religion  as  the  firft  and  moft  indifpensable 
qualification  in  every  candidate  for  the  holy  miniftry.  All  attain- 
ments without  this,  would  unqueftionably  be,  not  only  inadequate, 
but  pernicious.  Yet  it  rauft  alfo  be  admitted  that  piety  alone  can- 
not qualify  a  man  to  be  a  teacher  of  the  gofpel;  efpecially  in  cir- 
cumftances  where  the  literary  and  fcientific  attainments  of  many 
avowed  infidels,  and  the  general  improvement  of  almoft  all  de- 
fcriptionsof  people,  will  render  it  impoffible  for  the  religious  teacher 
to  maintain  weight  of  character,  and  permanent  influence,  if  his 
knowledge  be  fcanty,  and  his  literature  circumfcribed. — The 
minifter  himfelf,  in  fuch  a  fituation,  will  feel,  and  be  difconcerted 
by,  a  sense  of  his  inferiority,  and  will  neither  speak  with  confidence 
in  himfelf,  nor  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  beget  and  preferve  confidence 
in  the  minds  of  others. 

Influenced  by  thefe  confiderations,  it  has  been  the  univerfal 
cuftom  of  the  Proteftant  churches  in  Europe,  and  of  none  more 
than  of  that  chutch  from  which  we  derive  our  origin,  to  encou- 
rage a  learned  and  pious  miniftry,  and  to  inftitute  fchools  for  the 
purpofe.  These  fchools,  particulaily  in  Scotland  and  Holland, 
have  been  cherifhed,  with  the  greateft  care,  ever  fince  the  time  of 
the  glorious  reformation,  and  have  been  attended  with  the  happieft 
consequences  ;  nor  would  it  be  difficult  to  prove  that  they  have 
had  a  moft  important  efficajcy  in  preferving  the  influence  of  evan- 
gelical truth  in  thofe  countries  Churches  in  this  country  derived 
from  thofe  of  Scotland  and  Holland,  and  ftill  more  recently, 
our  congregational  brethren  in  Maflachufletts  have  undertaken 
Gmilar  i.iftitutions,  and  have  already  begun  to  reap  fruits  of  the 
mod  promifing  kind.  Unlefs  we  imitate  their  laudable  example, 
the  coflieouehces  will  probably  be,  that,  in  a  few  years,  while  they 


rife  and  flourifh,  we  (hall  decline,  and  fall  into  a  ftate  of  difcourag- 
ing  weaknefs  and  inferiority. 

Impressed  with  these  convictions,  and  placed  in  thefe  folemn 
circumltances,  the  AfTembly  have  refolved,  in  the  name,  and,  as 
they  trust,  with  an  humble  reliance  on  the  aid  of  the  great  king 
of  Zion,  to  go  forward,  and  attempt  the  execution  of  the  plan 
which  will  be  herewith  fubmitted  to  your  confideration. — They 
have  preferred  the  eftablifhment  of  a  fingle  fchool,  to  the  erection 
of  a  greater  number,  becaufe,  after  comparing  the  reports  from  the 
several  Prefbyteries,  and  the  sentiments  of  commilhoners  to  the 
AfTembly  from  the  various  parts  of  the  church,  there  appeared 
every  reason  to  believe  that  the  former  plan  would  be  mod  ac- 
ceptable and  moll  generally  approved;  and  also  because  they  are 
of  opinion,  that  this  plan,  by  concentrating  the  strength  and  refour- 
ces  of  the  whole  church,  will  furnifh  a  more  complete  fyfrem  of 
education,  and  tend  more  than  any  other,  to  promote  the  purity, 
peace,  harmony,  and  vigour  of  the  Prefbyterian  body  in  the 
United  States. 

And  now,  dear  brethren,  it  depends,  under  God,  on  your 
patronage  and  liberality,  whether  the  plan  propofed  fhall  be  car- 
ried into  execution,  and  if  executed  at  all,  whether  with  langour, 
and  comparative  inutility,  or  with  vigour  and  effect. — To  fupport 
several  ProfefTors;  to  provide  an  adequate  library;  and  to  furnifh 
the  means  of  giving  gratuitous  infti  action  and  boarding  to  a  large 
number  of  poor  and  pious  youth,  will  require  large  funds.  For  ob- 
taining thefe,  we  have  no  human  dependence  but  your  liberality. 
And  accordingly  to  folicit  contributions  in  different  portions  of  the 
church,  we  have  appointed  agents,  who  are  directed  to  report  the 
refult  of  their  folicitations  to  the  next  General  AfTembly. 

We  call  upon  you,  chriltian  brethren,  as  the  profeffed  difciples 
of  Chrift,  to  confider  the  important  crifis,  and  the  momentous 
object  which  are  now  brought  to  your  view. — You  acknowledge 
that  you  are  not  your  own,  but  that  you  are  bought  with  a  price, 
and  are  bound  to  glorify  God  in  your  bodies  and  fpirits  which  are 
his. — If  it  be  so, your  Jiher  and  your  gold  are  the  Lord's  ;  and  you 
are  under  obligations  to  employ  them  in  fuch  a  manner  as  will 
mod  effectually  promote  the  glory  of  Him,  by  whofe  bounty  they 
were  given  you. — With  this  great  principle  in  view,  confider  the 
preffing  calls  of  large  and  flouiifhing  churches,  who  solicit  in  vain 
for  minifters  to  break  to  them  the  bread  of  life.  Confider  the 
loud  and  affecting  cries  of  many  deftitute  fettlements,  which  know 
nothing  of  thofe  precious  privileges  with  which  you  are  surround- 
ed. Confider  the  honour  of  the  church,  with  which  you  are  con- 
nected; the  interests  of  religion  for  which  you  profefs  to  feel;  the 
infinite  valueof  immortal  fouls,  who  are  perifhing  for  lack  of  know- 
ledge ;  the  authority  of  that  God  who  commands  you  to  com- 


paffionati  th  mi  and  the  guilt  which  you  will  contract  ><  <iir 
hcalth  of  thi  church  mould  languid^  01  (bull  perifh,  by  youi  neg* 
li  rici  "i  narfimony.  Confidci  theie  chinas i  and  1 1 > « ■  •  fay  whe« 
thei  you  can  confeni  i<>  withhold  ■>  portion  ol  yom  fubitancvi 
when  called  upon  to  aid  in  one  <>(  the  mofl  important  concerni 
i  vi  present!  <i  to  youi  i  oniiderationi 

Brethren(  we  leave  thii  fubjeci  i"i  youi  folemn  and  prayerful 

deliberation.     Praying  thai  He  who  nai  the  heirtiol  all  flefti  m 

hit  handii  may  diipofe  you  t<-  'I"  thai  which  it  well  pleating  in 

his  lighti  and  honourable  i<>  youi  <iiuili.ni  profeflioni     and  thai 

i  n  v  .mi' i  |"  mi  '■  Mi.iy  be  multiplied  unto  y<>",  from  ( !«»l  the 

i.Hii'  i,  iind  i hi    Lord  feiui  Cnrili,  wc  arc  in  ihc  l <!•■  <>! 

■!,   ( }ofp<  i,  youi  friendiand  brethren. 

Signed  by  ordet  ofthi  Aflembly. 

Ioiin  B,  ROMEYN,  Modentoi 


THE  PLAN 


THEOLOGICAL  school 


Tin  Prefbyteriei  wcri  culled  upon  to  (lite  v/hei  they  had  i 

pectively  dom    with  refpeel  to  the  re imendai I  the  latl 

Aii.iniiiv,  relativi    to  Uk  eftabliiliment  oi  a  Theological  icl I 

Tin ii  ommitti  i  appointed  to  prefeni  to  the  AflembTy  i  plan  foi 
id.  -  f i .< i .1 1 (i i ■  t •.  iii  oi  ft  Theological  fchooli  reported)  and  ih    i 
pon  wai  laid  <>"  the  table, 

Tin  Committei  ippointed  farthei  to  eonudai  the  lubjeci  "i 
Theological  (choolii  rcportedi  and  thi  report)  being  read  and 
jin.  mil  ii,  w.r.  adopt  ii.  and  ii  ai  fojlowii  vi/. 

Tii. n  .iiii  i  maturely  deliberating  on  the  lubjeci  committed  to 

tll'lll,   liny  liilxml   In  tin     All.  ml.ly  1 1 1<     I.  il  Ii.  wiiij;   i.  lull 

i.  It  ii  i  vnii  ni,  iii. ii  mil  only  a  majority  ol  ii"  PrefbyterieJ 
wini  ii  ii.ivi  reported  <>"  thii  lubject)  bul  alfo  a  majority  oi  ill  the 

1'lrlliylriK  •,,    iinilrl     ill.      ..ii.     nl     tin.    /\  v..  nil  >ly  ,    li.iv.       |. I'll.. 1. 1 

decided  opinii favoui  oi  thi   cftabliihmeol  ol  i  Theological 

ichool  01  i'  hooli  In  oui  i  nun  hi 

2.  li  appeari  to  the  i  om teci  thai  althoughi  ai  i  ording  ''•  the 

ji. in  mi  ni  already  reported  to  tin    AiirmUy,  there  ii  tual 

iinniii.  i  ni  I'm  diyii  in  i  in  favoui  ni  tin  lull  plant  w'"'  '•  '  ""''  im 
|ii.iii\  .i  im).!.  i.  iniiii  im  tin-  wimii  church i  and  '"  favoui  oi  thi 
limit  plaoy  which  contemplate!  thi  erection  ol  b  fchool  is  eaoh 
Bynod i  yetf  ai  feveral  of  tin  objei  tioni  madi  to  thi  raril  plant  an 
founded  entirely  on  misconception)  and  will  bi  completely  ob 
vi.imiI  iiy  developing  the  dctaili  <»i  thai  plani  ii  leemi  fairly  to 
follow,  thai  then  iiagreatei  amount  oi  Preibyterial  lurTragi  in 
favoui  oi  i  fmgle  13  hooli  than  oi  -my  othei  plant 

j.  I  iniii  i  iin  ir  <  iii  iiiiiii.ini .  i|  the  committei  are  ol  opinion i 
thai  ai  mm  ii  1 1 ; » I » i  hai  been  obtained  from  thi  ri  porti  ol  rri  aby 

'•  rii  .,  mi  i in .  tubji  >  i,  ai  would  bi  lilti  ly  to  n  '"I1  from  i /al 

«>i  ih.  ri  d  n  in  i ,  thai  ii"  advantage  will  probably  arlfe  from  farthei 
•J'  lay  in  toil  kmportani  i  om  <  roi  btttj  on  thi  <  ontraryi  few  h 


nous  inconvenience  and  evil;  that  the  present  AfTembly  is  bound 
to  attempt  to  carry  into  execution  some  one  of  the  plans  proposed ; 
and  that  the  firfr.  plan,  appearing  to  have,  on  the  whole,  the 
greateft  share  of  public  sentiment  in  its  favour,  ought  of  course 
to  be  adopted. 

4.  Your  committee  therefore  recommend,  that  the  prefent 
General  AfTembly  declare  its  approbation  and  adoption  of  this 
plan,  and  immediately  commence  a  courfe  of  meafures  for  carrying 
it  into  execution,  as  promptly  and  extenfively  as  poflible  ;  and  for 
this  purpofe,  they  recommend  to  the  AfTembly,  the  adoption  of 
the  following  resolutions. 

Refolved, 

1.  That  the  ftate  of  our  churches,  the  loud  and  affecting  calls 
of  deftitute  frontier  fettlements,  and  the  laudable  exertions  of  va- 
rious chrifHan  denominations  around  us  ;  all  demand  that  the  col- 
lected wifdom,  piety  and  zeal  of  the  Prefbyterian  church  be,  with- 
out delay,  called  into  action,  for  furnilhing  the  church  with  a. 
large  fupply  of  able  and  faithful  mimfters. 

2.  That  the  General  AfTembly  will,  in  the  name  of  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church,  immediately  attempt  to  eftablifh  a  feminary 
for  fecuring  to  candidates  for  the  miniftry  more  extenfive  and 
efficient  theological  inftruction,  than  they  have  heretofore  en- 
joyed. The  local  fituation  of  this  feminary  is  hereafter  to  be  de- 
termined 

3.  That,  in  this  feminary,  when  completely  organized,  there  mail 
be,  at  leaft,  three  profefTors  ;  who  fhall  be  elected  by,  and  hold 
their  offices  during,  the  pleafure  of  the  General  AfTembly,  and 
who  fhall  give  a  regular  courfe  of  inftruction  in  divinity,  oriental 
and  biblical  literature,  and  in  ecclefiaftical  biftory  and  church  go- 
vernment, and  on  fuch  other  fubjecls  as  may  be  deemed  necefTary. 
It  being,  however,  underftood  that,  until  fufficient  funds  can  be  ob- 
tained for  the  complete  organization,  and  fupport  of  the  propofed 
feminary,  a  fmaller  number  of  profefTors  than  three  may  be  ap- 
pointed to  commence  the  fyftem  of  inftruction. 

4.  That  exertions  be  made  to  provide  fuch  an  amount  of  funds 
for  this  feminary  as  will  enable  its  conductors  to  afford  gratui- 
tous inftruction,  and,  where  it  is  necefTary,  gratuitous  fupport,  to 
all  fuch  ftudents  as  may  not  themfelves  pofTefs  adequate  pecuniary 
means. 

5.  That  the  Rev.  Drs.  Green,  Woodhull,  Miller  and  Ro- 
meyn,  the  Rev.  Meffrs.  Archibald  Alexander,  James  Richards, 
and  Amzi  Armftrong  be  a  committee  to  digefl  and  prepare  a  plan 
of  a  theological  feminary  ;  embracing  in  detail  the  fundamental 
principles  of  the  Inftitution,  together  with  regulations  for  guiding 
the  conduct  of  the  inftructors  and  the  fludents ;  and  preferring 


9 

tliebeft  modeofvifiting,  and  of  controlling  and  fupporting  the  whole 
fyftem.   This  plan  is  to  be  reported  to  the  next  General  AfTembly. 

6.  That  the  Rev.  Meflrs.  Jedediah  Chapman,  Jonas  Coe,  Wil- 
liam Morrifon,  James  Carnahan,  and  Mr.  Ilaac  Hutton,  of  the 
Synod  of  Albany:— the  Rev.  Drs.  Samuel  Miller,  Phillip  Mille- 
doler,  John  B  Romeyn,  and  Aaron  Woolworth,  the  Rev. 
Meflrs.  James  Richards,  David  Comfort,  and  Ifaac  Vandoren,and 
Col.  Henry  Rutgers,  of  the  Synod  of  New- York  and  New-Jerfey: 
the  Rev.  Drs.  Afhbel  Green,  John  M'Knigbt,  and  James  Muir, 
the  Rev.  Meflrs.  Nathaniel  Irwin,  John  Glendy,  Archibald 
Alexander,  John  E.  Latta,  John  B.  Slemons,  John  B.  Patter- 
son, and  James  Inglis,  and  Mr.  Robert  Ralfton,of  the  Synod  of 
Philadelphia  : — the  Rev.  John  D.  Blair,  William  Williamson, 
Samuel  Houfton,  Samuel  Doake,  and  Benjamin  Grigfby,  of  the 
Synod  of  Virginia: — the  Rev.  Samuel  Ralfron,  James  Guthrie, 
William  Speer,  and  James  Hughes,  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh : 
the  Rev.  Robert  G.  Wilson,  James  BIythe,  Archibald  Cameron, 
and  Jofhua  L.  Wilson,  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky: — the  Rev.  Drs. 
James  Hall,  and  Henry  Kollock,  and  the  Rev.  Meflrs.  Malcham 
M'Neir,  James  M'llhenny,  and  Andrew  Flinn,  of  the  Synod  of 
the  Carolinas ;  be,  and  they  hereby  are,  appointed  agents,  to 
solicit  donations  in  the  course  of  the  current  year,  within  the 
bounds  of  their  respective  Synods,  for  the  eftablifhment  and  fup- 
port  of  the  propofed  feminary  ;  and  if  any  of  said  agents  fhould 
be  unable  or  unwilling  to  act  in  this  cafe,  it  will  be  his  or  their 
duty  to  inform  the  Moderator  of  his  or  theii  Synod,  for  the  time 
being,  who  is  hereby  authorized,  if  he  think  proper,  to  appoint  a 
subftitute  or  fubftitutes,  as  the  case  may  require.  These  agents 
are  to  report  to  the  next  General  AfTembly. 

Refolved,  That  the  members  of  this  AfTembly  generally,  and 
all  the  clergy  of  our  denomination  within  our  bounds,  do  aid  the 
exertions  of  thofe  who  (hall  go  on  this  bufinefs. 

7.  That,  as  filling  the  church  with  a  learned  and  able  miniflry 
without  a  corresponding  portion  of  real  piety,  would  be  a  curfe 
to  the  world,  and  an  offence  to  God  and  his  people  ;  so  the 
General  AfTembly  think  it  their  duty  to  ftate,  that  in  eftablifhing 
a  feminary  for  training  up  minifters,  it  is  their  earnest  defire  to 
guard,  as  far  as  poffible,  againft  so  great  an  evil.  And  they  do 
hereby  folemly  pledge  themfelves  to  the  churches  under  their  care, 
that,  in  forming  and  carrying  into  execution  the  plan  of  the  pro- 
pofed feminary,  it  will  be  their  endeavour  to  make  it,  under  the 
blefling  of  God,  a  nurfery  of  vital  piety,  as  well  as  of  found  theo- 
logical learning,  and  to  train  up  perfons  for  the  miniflry,  who  (hall 
be  lovers,  as  well  as  defenders,  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jefus,  friends 
of  revifals  of  religion,  and  a  blefling  to  the  church  of  God. 

B 


10 


8.  That  as  the  conflitutioti  of  our  church  guarantees  to  every 
Prefbytery  the  light  of  judging  of  its  own  candidates  for  licenfure 
and  ordination;  so  the  Afienibly  think  it  proper  to  ftate,  molt  ex- 
plicitly, that  every  Prefbytery  and  Synod  will,  of  courfe,  be  left, 
at  full  liberty,  to  countenance  the  propofed  plan  or  not,  at  plea- 
fure  ;  and  to  send  their  frudents  to  the  projected  feminary  or  keep 
them,  as  heretofore,  within  their  own  bounds,  as  they  may  think 
mod  conducive  to  the  profperity  of  the  church. 

9.  That  the  profefTors  in  the  feminary  fnall  not,  in  any  cafe,  be 
confidered  as  having  a  right  to  licenfe  candidates  to  preach  the 
gofpel,  but  that  all  fuch  candidates  mall  be  remitted  to  their  res- 
pective Prefbyteries  to  be  licenfed  as  heretofore. 

ic.  Refolved,  finally,  that  Dr.  Samuel  Miller  and  Rev.  James 
Richards  be  a  committee,  to  prepare  a  draught  of  an  address  from 
this  Affembly  to  the  churches  under  our  care  ;  calling  their  atten- 
tion to  the  subject  of  a  Theological  School,  and  earnestly  solici- 
ting their  patronage  and  fupport,  in  the  execution  of  the  plan  now 
propofed. 

Certified  by 

JACOB  J.  JANEWAY,  Stated  Clerk. 


fas  • 

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